Experience Sharing and Learning from Adolescents Development Programmes Youth Helpline-Rozan

2 Voices of Young People “Please continue doing the radio programs. While I can not call you from my home…my cousins and I listen to your programs and learn a lot from them” A 14 year old girl from Swabi “I thank the Youth Helpline for building my confidence and helping me deal with my feelings at a time where there was so much confusion. I now work in an NGO…..and am the first girl to venture out……” a 22 year old girl

3 Voices of Young people “Life lost its purpose, when I was raped. The Helpline encouraged me to share my feelings…understand what happened…and begin the healing” A 16 year-old rape survivor “other boys made fun of my confusions about bodily changes. I have learnt how to deal with them” A 14 year old boy

4 Introduction of Adolescents Programme Initiated in 2001 from experiences of the Rozan’s children program on “Child Sexual Abuse” The program offers:  Psychological Counseling  Information  Referrals Others:  Trainings and capacity building  Awareness Raising  Life skills groups with young men & now with young women

5 Introduction of Adolescents Programme  Timings:10:00am to 8:00pm seven days a week Counsellor’s Profile: 6 Counselors (Male & Female) on rotational basis Support of 4-5 volunteer counselors (Psychologists, medical doctor) Coverage area: NWFP, Northern areas, parts of Punjab. 35% of Pakistan Toll free access from area codes 05 and 09

6 Statistics Adolescents and Youth between years of age Youngest caller: 9 years Oldest caller: 50 years  YHL has received 41,109 calls since 2001 out of which 22,994 were counselling calls.  44% of the calls were from females while 56% were from males.  In , there were 9998 counselling calls….417 calls a months…..104 calls a week

7 Methodology  Counsellors are trained to be non-judgmental, open and sensitive.  The approach is to empower young people to make “informed choices”  A caller may call just once, may call twice or 20 times or more.  A call may last from 5 minutes to 60 minutes

8 Methodology Issues addressed  Reproductive physiology/pathology  Psychosexual and psychosocial issues  Psychological concerns  Academics and career  Miscellaneous

9 Outcomes  87% callers calling twice or thrice rated the ability of the Helpline to provide them information about their issues at 1. (very good), while 50% calling the helpline 4-5 times rated the service as (very good), in its ability to help them develop insight into their issues.  Innovative tools of promotion e.g. billboards, Long Distance volunteer program, cable slides, brochures, radio, articles etc.  Radio as a tool of promotion (48% of callers).  Rights-based, nonjudgmental, confidential service.

10 Outcomes  Callers becomes volunteers  Successful in addressing controversial issues by taking a Psychological/Human rights take on controversial issues.  Callers referring their friends to avail the service (27% of callers).  Ability to sustain a caller rate of 104 counseling calls per week.

11 Lessons Learned  Involve young people in the program for feedback, in developing and carrying out interventions.  Importance of efficient and sensitive referral services: Some young people with severe issues require in-person help or intervention by the family.  Promotion has to be sensitive and appropriate

12 Recommendations  Interventions and programs for parents  Rights based approach vs. addressing young people as problems  Importance of being non-judgemental  Holistic approach towards SRH (inclusion of HIV/AIDs, emotions, gender)

13 Recommendations  Material must be distributed through other partner organizations  Ensuring quality vs. quantity by ensuring continued training of counsellors/addressing personal blocks  Long term work vs. one off projects